Relay



F. L. DODGSON.

RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 191 7.

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UNITED STATES mum: 1.. nonoson, or aocnns'rnn, NEW YORK, Assnmoa r0 GENERAL RA PATENT OFFICE.

SIGNAL COMPANY, 01 GATES, NEWYQRK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RELAY.

Specification .1 Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 27, 1921.

Application flied March 81, 1917. Serial No. 158,821. f

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRA'NK L. DonosoN, a citizen of the United States,.and resident of the city of Rochester, in the county of the construction ofrelays in general, and

more particularly the construction and arrangement of parts which serve to insulate the binding posts of a relay from their supporting panel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter in the description of the particular embodiment of the invention selected to explain its principles, mode of operation and features of construction; and the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In describingthis particular embodiment of the invention in detail reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which like reference characters refer to like parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a relay including the improved construction of'parts I as ' portion of the cover or contact supportingv panel of the relay, looking downward upon embodying this invention, the lower part of the relay being in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a. front elevation of the relay; 1 Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one of the binding posts and front contacts of the relay, said section being-taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;.

Fig: 4 is an enlarged isometric view ofone of the insulating blocks used for supporting abinding post; v

Fig. 5 1s a view similar to Fig. 4 show ng a slightly modified construction of the insulating block; Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the its upper face; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Ifig. showing the under face of the .supportln panel.

The g ner l c nstruction 0 the relay shown in Figs. land 2 forms no part of the present invention and is substantially the same as that shown in my prior Patent, 896,808, August 25th, 1908. The more impoi-tantparts of the relay comprise a base i 1, a metallic cover or contact supportin panel 2, and an electromagnet having twii coils 3 and provided with enlarged pole pieces 4. An armature -5 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis below the pole pieces 4, and secured to said armature are several contact fingers 6, which are adapted to be vmoved up and down by the movement of the armature 5 to make electrical contact with front and back contacts, according to the usual and well known operation of relays of this type. Associated with the cover or contact supporting panel 2 are a number of binding posts. Some of these binding posts, as the binding post7, serve to es,- tabhsh a connection between the outside of the relay case and a flexible connector 8 extending to each-respective contact finger 6. Some of the binding posts, as the binding post 9, have laterally extending prongs 10 constituting back contacts for the relay, that is, contacts which cooperate with a contact finger 6 when the relay is deenergized. Some of thebinding posts, as the binding-post 11, carry contacting pieces which constitute the front contacts of the relay,'-.-that is, a contact which is arranged to cooperate with a contact finger 6 and close a circuit when the relayis energized. This invention relates principally to the construction and arrangement of parts whereb these several binding posts are supported in the panel 2 and are insulated from said panel and from each other; and since this construction is substantially the same for each type of binding post, the description of the manner in which one binding sufiice for all. 7

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 7, each of the binding posts 7 9 and 11 extends through holes. 12 in the supporting panel '2, said holes being considerably larger than the binding posts, as shown in post is supported and insulated will 4 Fig.3. Each binding post, is supported in these holes 12 by two insulating blocks, one,

embodiment of the inventionillustrated, this result is accomplished by forming ridges or ribs 15 on the upper and lower faces of thepanel 2 which define in effect shallow res cesses 16 shaped the same as the insulating blocks 13 and 14. In this connection, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the same immovable connection between the insulating blocks 13 and 14 and the panel 2 may be accomplished in other ways, and if desired, the recesses 16 may be formed as depressions 'below the general surface of the panel 2, instead of 'by the ridges or ribs 15. The ridge or rib 15 on two or more sides of each recess 16 is cut away to form,

- notches, as indicated by the reference character 17, in Figs. 6 and 7, these notches 17 being disposed substantially in alinement with the'holes 12 through the panel 2, fonthe purpose more fully explained hereinafter. The insulating blocks 13 and 14 ap-.

plied to the upperand lower faces of the panel 2-are for convenience in manufacture constructed the same, although certain features of the structure of each insulating block perform no activefunction when the blockis applied to the upper face, or the lower face, respectively; and it is obvious that these insulating blocks may be constructed differently, if desired.

. Referring to Fig. 4, each of the insulated blocks 13 and 14 is 'provided with a circular hole 18 extending therethrough through which the binding post 11 passes, this hole being a little larger than said binding post, as shown in Fig. 3. In one face of each insulating' block 13 and 14 is formed a square or rectangular recess 19, and extending outward from this recess to the outer edge of the block are grooves or channels 20. In the construction shown in Fig; 4 only two of these grooves'20 are shown, while in the with a screwthreaded stem 24 adapted to be secured into a tapped longitudinal bore in one end ofthe binding post 11. This stem- .24 also carries a nut 25 by which the binding post 11 is clamped between the insulatingblocks 13 and, 14. Surrounding the binding post 11 along the portion of the length thereof which passes through the insulating blocks13 and 14 and the supporting panel 2, is a sleeve or bushing 26 of oiled silk or similar insulating material.

panelv 2, for the est the panel.

There is preferably provided an appreciable clearance between this insulating bushing 26 and the insulating blocks 13 and 14, and a considerable clearance or air space between this bushing 26 and the supporting urpose hereinafter explained. Each binding post is provided with the usual nuts 27 by which wires are clamped thereto. lVhen the binding post is in place, as shown in Fig. 3, the upper insulating block 13 is arranged so that its face, provided with the recess 19 and the grooves 20, is uppermost, in such position that the enlarged portion 21 of the binding post 11 fits closely in said recess. The lower insulating block 14, however, is reversed, so that its face, provided with the recess 19 and porting a back contact, as the binding post 9, the insulating blocks 13 and 14 are disposed in a different way, the lower block 14 having its recessed face outward and the upperblock 13 having its recessed face near- Thisedifference in arrangement does not modify the action or principle of the invention and is adopted for the simple reason that a binding post, as 9, supporting a back contact is tightened and clamped in place from above, rather than from below. The binding posts, such as the binding post, 7, which are used to establish a connection from the outside of the relay case to the flexible connector or pigtail 8, are supported and insulated exactly the same as the binding post shown in Fig. 3 and hereinbefore described, withthe exception that the contact 22, and its support are omitted and replaced by nuts'28 for clamping the pigtail 8 in place;

Heretofo're, a common way of supporting and insulating binding-posts from metallic supporting panels has been to provide an insulating bushing between the binding post and the panel and two insulating washers on each side of the panel. In using thi? construction in practice it has been found that the insulating bushing has been sometimesinjured and its insulating qualities destroyed by excessive, binding and compression. It can be seen that this pressure on the insulating bushing would naturally result in the construction heretofore used, since all sidewise andtilting movementiof the binding post,

such as would be occasioned by the tightenmg of the nuts associated therewith, would necessarily have to be'borne by this insulating bushing. A- further disadvantage of the construction heretofore used is that when excessive differences of potential exist between the binding post and its supporting panel, as for example due to static charges and lightning, not only wouldfltl'ie insulatingbushing be broken by the brakdown of its insulating qualities, but also the parts associated with the binding post would be distorted, disrupted, or to a large extent displaced from their proper positions, some- 1 times with almost explosive force.-

- Referring to the construction embodyin this invention, it will be noted that eachbinding post is supported entirely by the inpressure can be placed upon the relatively thin and weak insulating bushing 26, since ample clearance is provided so that, in the usual position of the-binding post and in any position which thebinding post may assume under ordinary pressures, said insulating bushing is not cramped or bound in any 'l he space between the insulating bushing 26, the insulating blocks 13' and 14 and the panel 2, affords an air space of considerable volume; and this air s ace is in communication with the outside air through'the grooves 20 in the lower insulating block 14 and the notches 17in the ribs-15 on the lower face of the panel 2. With such a construction, it

' is found that the disruptive effect of light ning discharges fromja binding post to "its supporting panel are very much reduced, the principal damage being the cracking,-=tearing'or breaking ofthe insulating bushing 26,

while the other parts associated with the binding post arenot seriously. injured, so that in repairing the relay, it is only necessary to put a new bushing 26 in place. The absence of such severe breaking of parts: by

lightning discharges in the construction-em fact that the'volume of air-subject to the heating action of the discharge is many times greater in the improved construction,

than in'the construction heretofore used, and furthermore to the fact that this body of air is in communicationwith the outside" -air and may be ex elled" readily without injuring or breakin While I have scribed one particular construction andarhe parts surrounding it.

Vrangement of parts for carrying out my invention, it is apparent that considerable change 'could be made in the exact form, shape and arrangement of parts by one skilled in the art desiring to apply this in} vention to erein illustrated and de-- articular cases; and I donot.

act construction and arrangement of parts shown and described.

What-I. claim as'new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is 1. In a relay, the combination with a binding postand a metallic supporting panel therefor, fiat rectangular blocks of insulating material disposed on opposite sides of said panel and coiiperating to constitute the only supporting connection between the binding post and panel, said blocks being relatively heavy and of a size and thickness capable of withstanding the ordinary pressures exerted upon the binding post, said panel and insulating blocks havin alined holes therein for receiving the binding post,

the hole in said panel being considerably larger in diameter than said post, means for clamping the binding post in place between said insulating blocks, said panel being formed with ridges on both sides engaging all sides of'the corresponding blocks so as 'to hold them against either turning or sidewise movement, said ridges being relatively shallow and extending only part way up along the sides of said blocksl 2. In a relay, thecombination with a bind ing post and a metallic supporting panel therefor, relatively heavy fiat blocks of insulating material disposed on'opposite faces of the Panel, said panel and. insulating blocks having alined holes therein for receiving the binding post, the hole in said .panel being considerably larger than the binding post, a relatively thin flexible bushing of insulating-material surrounding the binding post out of contact witlbthe panel, means for clamping the binding post in place between said insulating blocks, and means for holding said blocks against movement relatively to the panel.

3. In a relay, a metallic supporting panel,

flat blocks of insulating material disposed 'on opposite faces of the panel, abinding post passing through alined holes in the blocks and panel, the 'hole in said panel be ing considerably larger in diameter than the bodying this invention is attributed to the.

binding post, a flexible sleeve of insulating materialsurrounding the bindingpost out of contact with the panel, means whereby the binding post and one ofthe insulating 1 blocks are. held against relative turning movement, a nut on the binding post bear- .ing against the other blocks and adapted to v clamp the binding post between said blocks,

and means on opposite facesv of said panel adapted to prevent movement of said blocks direction in the plane of said panel. a relay, a supporting panel, blocks of insulating material disposed on opposite faces. of said panel'and held against movement in the plane thereof, said panel and insulating blocks having aline'd holestherein, a binding post passfigb loosely through ish, there ore, to be restricted to the ,ex- \said holes, whereby a space is formed between the binding post and said panel and blocks, one of said blocks being provided with air channels leading from said space to the outside air, andmeans for clamping the binding post in place between said blocks.

5. In a relay construction, a metallic supporting panel, squared flat blocks of insulating material disposed on opposite faces of rounding the binding post where it passes through said panel and out of contact therewith.

6. In a relay construction, a metallic supporting panel, blocks of insulating material supported by said panel, anda bin-ding post supported by said blocks out of contact with said panel, whereby an inclosed air space is formed between the. binding postand the panel, one of said blocks being provided with air passages extending from the inclosed air space to the outside air.

7. In a relay construction, a metallic supporting panel, blocks of insulating material disposed on opposite faces of the panel and held against movement in the plane thereof,

a. binding post clamped between said blocks with an inclosed air space between it and said panel, one of said blocks being provided with air passages extending from the inclosed air space to the outside air, and a bushing of insulating material interposed in the air space between the binding post and the panel and occupying .part of said air space.

8. In a relay, the combination with a supporting panel and a binding post, of means for insulating said post from said panel, saig means providing an air chamber around sai post with a vent to the outside air.

9. In a relay construction, a supporting panel, blocks of insulating material disposed on opposite sides of said panel and held against rotation in the plane thereof, said panel and said blocks having alined holes therein, a binding post passing loosely through said holes, thereby provlding an air space between said post and the walls of said holes, anda slot in one face of one 5010i? said blocks forming a vent connecting the a r space around said post with the outside 1O. In a relay construction, a supporting panel having squared recesses formed on opposite sides thereof by projecting flanges,

blocks of insulating material disposed on.

passing loosely through said holes with an air space between it and the walls of said holes, one of said blocks having a groove formed in one of its faces extending outward from the holes therein to the outer edge, one of said flanges having an opening therein alined with said groove, whereby a passageway is formed connecting the air space around said post with the outside air, and means for clamping the binding post in place between said blocks.

11. In a relay construction, a supporting panel, separate and detachable blocks of insulating material 'sposed on opposite faces of the panel, a binding post clamped between said blocks and extending through a hole in the panel which is larger than said post so as toleave a space between it and said panel, said blocks being relatively heavy and of suflicient strength to support the binding post, means preventing displacement of blocks in the plane of the panel and at the same time permit their detachment upon removalof the binding post, and a relatively thin sleeve of insulating material surrounding the binding post and occupying only part of the space between the post and the panel.

12. In a rela cdnstruction, a metallic supporting pane blocksof insulating material disposed above and below the panel and having alined holes therein, said panel having integral projections cooperating with the edges of said blocks'whereby the blocks are each held against either sidewise or turning movement and are also separately detachable, a binding" post extendlng through the holes in the blocks and through a hole inthe panel, said hole in the panel being considerably larger in diameter than said post, said blocks constituting theonly supporting connection betweenflthe binding post and the panel and being of sufiicient strength to withstand the stresses to which the post supported thereby is ordinarily subjected, said binding post having a squared portion near the upper end thereof which fits in a cooperating recess in' the upper face FRANK L. DODGSON. 

